I feel stupid to be upset by this...

[AFWife]

I'm also going through a sugar withdrawal atm...AND I'm almost 8 weeks PP...to two under two...so none of this is helping my current mood.

My DH just texted me and told me that he's been looking at our spending and our current food budget is out of control. I'm not sure how it got that way because before the end of last year we were FINE. (That's a lie, I know how it got that way...you'll see)  We've been trying to eat better so we've been buying all of our meats from Whole Foods. *I* feel better about this choice. And, a bit of a TMI, my DH's digestive tract feels better too. He doesn't react well to, well, crap meat. We've also been buying our veggies organic that are on the "dirty dozen" list.

What I *think* happened is this: DH doesn't like to make a bunch of trips for food. We had been buying half of our stuff at Whole Foods (meat, some produce, raw cheese) and half at the grocery store (canned foods, other produce, breads) We made several trips to WF that involved me going, "Okay, the stuff we're getting here is XYZ" and him going, "Let's just get it while we're here." Anyone that's shopped at WF knows that there can be a significant difference in price for almost the exact same thing you find at a regular grocery (sometimes the same brand!). We also got in the habit of getting treats (chips, sodas, candy) while at WF because a few months ago we were new shoppers and it was fun...

I feel really stupid to be upset at the prospect of buying conventional meats and whatnot. I understand the need to save money, I really do. I just want to keep eating like we have been...

There really isn't anywhere else I can see cutting back atm. Food is our big spend.

I just needed to vent. Thoughts and advice is still welcome.

[Alyantavid]

Buy in bulk.  Shop sales and don't buy anything at full price. 

Ok I honestly don't know how meat is priced at stores so I don't know if you can even find a sale on that, but if not, look at other places. 

I buy mostly organic produce but we don't have tons of choices every week either.  I buy what's on sale and that's the fruit for the week.  I don't like going to 10 different stores either.  So I shop at two.  They run sales regularly for things we eat and I can get alot of what I need for a good price.  We do sometimes go to Costco but not often.  And yeah, it is a pain to go to different stores, but it can be worth it.

And I do buy treat foods, but I again, on sale and cheap.  And I make what I can at home.

It isn't fun to have to cut your grocery budget but maybe if you can get most of your food on sale, you can afford the spendier meat.

[AFWife]

We have been meaning to make a trip out to Costco to check it out....I guess that needs to become priority.

The meats and stuff go on sale from time to time, but I plan our meals a month in advance so we don't always catch the sales when we're shopping. (And we tried just showing up, shopping, and going from there but it was WAY more expensive that way)

[Alyantavid]

Can you just shop sales and then plan from what you have in the house?  I save alot of money doing that instead of planning and then shopping.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid 

Can you just shop sales and then plan from what you have in the house?  I save alot of money doing that instead of planning and then shopping.

I'll talk it over with DH...

The problem with that right now is we're nearing the end of the month so we're kind of out of food...

[insidevoice]

I largely gave up on buying meat from most stores.  Instead, I buy it from the local meat processor (yep, they do in the animals right there) and I arrange to get meat from an animal raised by a rancher I consider ethical. It isn't necessarily organic, but it is pastured and the quality is great. By buying in bulk I can get a half cow and a pig cut and wrapped as I request and I'm set for a long while.  Chicken is something I buy as it's available from local sources- always whole birds because they are so much more economical.  I currently have about 6 chickens and a turkey in the freezer as well. 

It is an up front cost, but by eliminating meat from our normal grocery shops, we save money in the long term. 

[BathrobeGoddess]

Is there a Sunflower Market near you? I think they have a couple in Texas...They have decent natural meats and a good selection of organics...plus all the canned and such you need. Finding them was a life saver for my family (really, I shop the sale flier and plan meals that way) so we could keep eating well on very little money.

[insidevoice]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid 

Can you just shop sales and then plan from what you have in the house?  I save alot of money doing that instead of planning and then shopping.

Oh, this too.  I always shop for what is a good price first, and plan meals based on that instead of planning meals first. 

We had great sales on pasta lately, so we are eating that, along with some really wonderful veggies that were on sale. 

[Chicky2]

Where in Tx are you?  I'm in N. Texas, NW of the DFW area.  What we don't raise ourselves we find deals on, straight from the farmer, or we participate in trapping/butchering.  If you are nearby maybe I can help you find some options...

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Chicky2 

Where in Tx are you?  I'm in N. Texas, NW of the DFW area.  What we don't raise ourselves we find deals on, straight from the farmer, or we participate in trapping/butchering.  If you are nearby maybe I can help you find some options...

San Antonio, near Lackland AFB

[taubel]

We have the same problem with our food budget. We are spending a FORTUNE each month (usually around $1400) for a family of 5. We NEVER eat out. And we only eat meat one night a week. What gets us is the organic milk and produce. We like to eat healthy (although our food is not all organic), and we consume a very wide variety of fruits and vegetables. My husband does the cooking, and he cooks very simple dinners, but he always puts out at least three different types of vegetables as well as a fruit (and my kids DO eat all of this). 

We don't feel we have the time to go to 10 different stores, or to bake our own bread, etc. We started last month with the "stocking up" plan. Whenever we saw a good deal, we bought it! So now we have a small pantry with about 15 boxes of organic cereal, four organic peanut butters, etc. Of course, this raised our food spending for February, but hopefully shopping this way (and getting better at it) will start to help us each month.

I do want to eat healthy and feed my kids healthy food, but it is hard to make that sacrifice if we're spending all our money on food and not being able to afford a better house, vacations, entertainment, etc.

I hope you can find a simple way to cut your food budget. And if you so, please post it on here! Good luck!

[beebalmmama]

This is closer to what I do as well.

We also buy meat from Sunflower market, not organic but a bit more natural.

I do shop at 3 different stores and WF is one of them but the only items I get are either their 365 items or on sale. I don't buy produce there, usually other local grocers have better choices for local produce and better prices on organics.

We eat meat 1-2 times a week.

WF has a children program where they can pick out a snack (ie carrots, stick cheese, cookie from bakery) I like knowing that at least we can give ds a treat even if we can't afford one for ourselves.

Honestly I wish I could buy all organics from the "dirty dozen" list. But some of them I can barely afford the conventional one and then only on sale.

Eat in season as much as possible.

Originally Posted by Alyantavid 

Can you just shop sales and then plan from what you have in the house?  I save alot of money doing that instead of planning and then shopping.

[goldingoddess]

I don't buy meat, but our costco sells organic whole organic chickens and organic beef, does yours?

I only go to WF once a month, and only buy specialty items that I can only get at WF, like bulk organic oats.

[The Imp and I]

I'm in San Antonio..... There is a Sun Harvest at Callaghan and I10... its one of the bigger ones. they take coupons and if you get their flier on Wed. then both the previous and current weeks sales are available. I like www.greenling.com for their local box. where we live they deliver on a tues. I make my list. hit the Sun Harvest Sales with the HEB flier in hand and then finish up my shop at HEB on the way home

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by The Imp and I 

I'm in San Antonio..... There is a Sun Harvest at Callaghan and I10... its one of the bigger ones. they take coupons and if you get their flier on Wed. then both the previous and current weeks sales are available. I like www.greenling.com for their local box. where we live they deliver on a tues. I make my list. hit the Sun Harvest Sales with the HEB flier in hand and then finish up my shop at HEB on the way home

Are their prices really really reasonable? We *just* heard about them being in town. We've ordered online before and it was quite expensive.

Scratch that. I just looked it up and heard angels singing lol

[sonrisaa29]

Whole foods takes coupon s plus they also have coupons that you can download off their website...plus You can buy a case of any thing in the store you save 10% . If its on sale you get the case price and the sale price which can really work out..which Means any time meat is on sale ask them how much is in a case

[kristandthekids]

Originally Posted by AFWife 

San Antonio, near Lackland AFB

It's been a long time since I was a military dependant, but I remember the commissary having really good prices on groceries and nicer meats. Is that not true anymore?

[honeybunmom]

Our WF has sales at the meat counter every Friday.  Last week it was organic chickens for $1.89/lb.  For the bulk of our meat, I do a hormone free chicken and beef CSA and fill any gaps with WF.  I pick up a pizza from WF every Friday after work, so, now, I make it a point to swing by the meat counter to see whether what we usually run out of is on sale.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by kristandthekids 

Originally Posted by AFWife 

San Antonio, near Lackland AFB

It's been a long time since I was a military dependant, but I remember the commissary having really good prices on groceries and nicer meats. Is that not true anymore?

Yes good prices....but the quality is terrible.

[kristandthekids]

That makes me sad to hear. I remember we used to always turn our nose up at the grocery store meats and get them at the commissary because they were much better quality. You'd think we would feed our military better.